The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country rich in biodiversity, including endemic gorillas and extensive rainforests, and home to conservation-minded communities. Unfortunately, this nation in the heart of Africa is more internationally renowned for illegal mining, deforestation and civil conflicts.
In 2012, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, a charity for the protection of gorillas, began collaborating with the local communities of Nkuba in DRC to set aside c. 2,600 km2 of primary rainforest for conservation and sustainable resource use. To enhance ecological research and conservation efforts in Nkuba Conservation Area—vital habitat for both gorillas and chimpanzees—we started gathering information on the species that live in this forest. People from the local communities had a wealth of insights to offer, but we also needed to verify the presence of certain species by direct observation, especially those whose tracks can be easily misindentified. We were also hoping to capture footage of the great apes, to help better understand what their family structures looked like.
Discovering the hidden animals at the heart of Africa
In 2012, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, a charity for the protection of gorillas, began collaborating with the local communities of Nkuba in DRC to set aside c. 2,600 km2 of primary rainforest for conservation and sustainable resource use. To enhance ecological research and conservation efforts in Nkuba Conservation Area—vital habitat for both gorillas and chimpanzees—we started gathering information on the species that live in this forest. People from the local communities had a wealth of insights to offer, but we also needed to verify the presence of certain species by direct observation, especially those whose tracks can be easily misindentified. We were also hoping to capture footage of the great apes, to help better understand what their family structures looked like.
Discovering the hidden animals at the heart of Africa